After Midnight, Before Dawn

Beau

“Gran, how have you been?” Abigail asked, attempting to keep the conversation light.

“Oh, you know, dear. Same old, same old,” she replied with a smile, but her eyes seemed to gaze into the distance.

The scent of freshly baked cookies filled the air. “Mmm, it smells so good in here,” Abigail said.

With that, Gran walked out of the room. “Come on, I’ll pop on a pot of tea,” she said.

Abigail joined her in the kitchen, where she proudly presented a batch of cookies that she had prepared earlier. “You take a seat, Gran,” Abigail said, “and I’ll fix us the tea,” and she went about doing just that.

Over the space of an hour, they chatted about college, Abigail’s friends, and life in the big city, skipping a few details that Gran didn’t need to know about. Her Gran spoke of what she had just planted in the garden, the town market, her various social groups, as well as the local town gossip. Yet, something seemed different, and Abigail couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was exactly.

As they sat, not realizing how much time had passed, a knock echoed throughout the cottage. “I’ll get it, Gran,” Abigail said, getting up off her chair to answer the door.

She was pleased to see the local mailman, Tony, a friendly face she remembered from childhood. “Well, Abigail Prescott, my oh my, how you’ve grown, quite the little lady now I see!” he said, rubbing the back of his neck in surprise.

“Tony!” Abigail yelled happily as she pulled him in for a hug, his face lighting up a dark shade of crimson.

He handed her a stack of letters and packages, including a few for Gran.

“Who’s there, Abbey?” Gran called out wearily from the kitchen.

“It’s just Tony, Gran, he’s got some mail for you,” Abigail called out, and she shuffled over with a twinkle in her eye as she eagerly opened each envelope.

“Well, ladies, I’d love to stay and chat, but I’ve got some big deliveries today. I’ll see you both another time,” he said, as he bid them farewell with a smile.

As the morning wore on, Abigail couldn’t shake the feeling that Gran seemed a little vague and forgetful. She saw her misplacing her glasses, forgetting the names of familiar faces in the family photos, and repeating stories she had shared only moments earlier.

Perhaps she was tired. She had woken up early today to get ready for Abigail’s arrival, so she probably just needed some more sleep. While lost in her thoughts, a familiar voice called out from the front porch. Abigail made her way to the front door, peering out through the curtain. It was her twin brother, Beau.

“Abbey!” he called out, surprised.

“Beau!” Abigail yelled back in excitement, and she opened the door and launched herself at him. They started roughhousing. It was just a thing that they did, a form of sibling bonding, and it wasn’t long before Gran called out, “That’s enough, you two, you’re making a nuisance of yourselves.”

“Come here and help your poor old Gran out,” she said, to which they obliged.

“Now here’s my shopping list. I need you two to go collect everything on this list. I’m making a special dinner to welcome your sister tonight, Beau, and I expect you to be there in your Sunday best,” Gran said.

“Sorry, Gran, I’ve got a date tonight,” Beau protested.

“Beau Prescott, don’t make me whip you, boy, because I will. Your sister is finally home. You will be here, understand?” she said.

“Yes, ma’am,” Beau replied reluctantly.

“Gran, there’s no need to go to such trouble,” Abigail said.

“Nonsense. Anyway, it’s not just about you. Pastor Jeff is coming over, too, so you two best mind your manners,” Gran said matter-of-factly.

“Yes, ma’am,” they replied in unison. They knew better than to argue with Gran.

“Alright, that’s enough chatter. Go on, git. I’ve got chores to do,” Gran said, practically shooing them out the door.

“I’ll drive, just in case you’ve done forgotten where everything is,” Beau mocked.

“Say that again, I dare you,” Abigail challenged him as they made their way into the car.

“Hey, Beau, how’s Gran doing?” Abigail asked. “I’ve noticed some changes since my last visit,” she confided in him, as he drove through the backroads to town.

Beau gulped, and his expression changed. “It’s not good, Sis. Gran isn’t doing so well,” he said, confirming her fears.

After ticking all the items off the list that Gran had asked for, Beau and Abigail swung by the local bar for a quiet drink. It was only early afternoon, but it was ‘five o’clock somewhere.’

Beau told her what had been happening with Gran and how others had been checking in on her and helping, but the time was coming to do something about it. She couldn’t go on in her current state. And that was when Abigail made the decision right then and there to take a semester off from college.

“Beau, I can’t leave Gran like this. I need to stay a bit longer. I wanna be part of what happens next. I can’t go back to the city like this,” she confessed.

“Whatcha mean?” He asked.

“I’m gonna take a semester or two off college, as many as I need, to help Gran, to figure out where we go from here,” she said.

“Abbey, you can’t. You’ve worked hard. You ain’t staying here. I won’t allow it,” he declared.

“I am older than you, little brother. Don’t make me whip you,” she threatened.

“Two minutes! You’re only two minutes older. You really are gonna use that against me forever, ain’t you?” He complained.

“Gran sacrificed everything for the two of us when Mom, Dad, and Jessica perished all those years ago. I can’t bear the thought of leaving her alone. I need to be there, to support her through all of this,” she reasoned with him.

“Nothing I can say is gonna change your mind, is it?” he asked.

“Nothing at all,” she replied with determination.

“Well, alright then,” he said. “So when do we tell her?”

“Tomorrow?” She suggested.

“Tomorrow it is! We’ll sit down with Gran tomorrow morning and explain our intentions moving forward. She ain’t gonna like it!” He said.

Abigail knew in her heart that her Gran would be vehemently against her choice to begin with, but she had faith that she would come around eventually.

“I guess I need to find me a job,” Abigail said out loud.

“What kinda job you lookin’ to find?” Beau asked.

“Well, I don’t have any qualifications other than some bartending and waitressing experience,” she replied.

“Why don’t you try the local diner?” He suggested.

“That’s a good idea. I stopped there on my way home. Looked like they could do with a hand,” Abigail replied. She did get the impression that they were short-staffed last night. Hopefully, the stars would align, and she could start working there.

“Well, I wish you luck,” Beau said, as he quickly drank the rest of his beer.

“Come on, let’s get them groceries home. I’ve got things to do,” he said as he got up from the barstool.

Once they got home and unpacked the groceries, Abigail decided to take a drive to the diner and enquire about a job. Gran had gone upstairs to have a nap, so this was the perfect opportunity to go for a drive.

It didn’t take her long to get to the diner. As she pulled into the car park, she slowed down for the many families making their way there for their early dinner. She found a place to park right at the back and made her way to the diner in the hopes of leaving with a job.

While walking into the diner, the bell above the door jingled, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee hit her. As she approached the counter, she was shocked when she saw an old friend from high school standing there, her face lighting up with surprise.